Time controlled switch



w. L. KING TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Nov. 25. 1927 El Moan t /t,

fitter/ Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES,

v WALTER L. KING, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 7 TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Application filed November 23, 1927; Serial No. 235,338.

The present invention is directed to improvements in time controlled switches.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a deviceof this character wherein a train of clock gearing will rotate a disk to close or open thelighting circuit of an automobile in order that the parking light there of can be turned on and off at predetermined intervals.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a switch of this nature which may be located upon a suitable part of an automobile for convenience in settlng, the construction being such that the light will be turned on at 16 dark and turned off at daylight.

lVith these and other objects in view, this invention resides in novel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front View of the device. Figure 2 is afragmentary sectional view. Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of the clock mechanism.

In carrying out my invention I provide a disc 1 which is formed from suitable insulat- 80 ing material having a segmental contact strip 2 fixed to its periphery, the purpose of which will be later explained. This disc is fixed to the shaft 3 and carries a clutch face 4 which is normally engaged with the clutch face 5 carried by a gear 6 of twice the size as and being in mesh with the hour hand gear 7 of the clock train 8. The shaft 3. is slidably and rotatably mounted in the bearings 9 of the frames 10 of the clock mechanism and has its rear end provided with a knob 11, and

interposed between the knob and back plate 12 of the clock casing 13 is a coil spring 14 which obviously urges the shaft 3 in a direction to normally maintain the clutch faces 4 and 5 engaged in order that when the gear 6 is rotated through the medium of the clock train the disc 1 will be rotated once in twenty- Y y be turned on.

Mounted 'in the casing and insulated therefrom is a pair of posts 17, the inner ends of which are provided with contact heads 18, saidoposts being in circuit with the lighting circuit through wires 19. n

The face 20 of the clock is provided with a dial 21 marked. from 1 to 12, indicating 2 hours each, there being a hand 21 upon the shaft 3 arranged to designate the leading end of the contact strips 2 and capable of so being placed in registration with a number upon rotation of theshaft.

a It will be obvious that upon pressing inwardly upon the shaft 3 the clutch faces 4 and 5 will be disengaged, thus permitting the as shaft to be rotated to turn the hand 21 to a desired number upon the dial.

As shown in Figure 2, the heads 18 are both in contact with the strip 2 and at which time the circuit is closed in order that the light will glow. This disc makes a complete revolution in twenty-four hours, and the strip is of such length that the heads 18 will both remain in contact therewith approximately twelve hours in order that the lights will glow for the same length of time. As soon as one of the heads disengages the strip 2 the circuit will be broken and the light extinguished.

Referring to Figure 1, the time is shown as five oclock P. M. and the pointer 21 has been set to have a lead of two hours on the hourhand 15. Two hours later, or at seven P. M. the pointer 21 will point to 6, since it turns counter-clockwise, andthe leading end of the contact strip will have made contact with the posts 17 and'19 and the lights will Twelve hours later the contact strip will pass off the posts and extinguish the lights. As a further example, assuming the clock hands indicate two oclock and it is desired to set the device to'operate at five oclock, thatis, three hours later, it is simply necessary to set the pointer 21 to have a lead of three hours on the hour hand,

that is, the pointer must be set midway between the numerals 3 and 4.

As shown, the hand 21 is set to light the lamp at 7 p. m. and to extinguish the same at 7 a. m., but it will be of course understood that the length of the strip may be varied in order that the period of lighting and extinguishing the lamp may be varied as desired.

\Vhile the device is primarily designed for controlling the lights of an automobile, it will be of course understood that it can be used With equal success in connection with lights for other purposes.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A time switch of the class described, comprising a clock train gear, a shaft having a disc fixed thereto of insulating material, a segmental strip fixed to the periphery of the disc, a clutch face carried by the disc, a gear, said shaft being rotatably and slidably engaged With the gear and having a clutch face for normally engaging the first named face, said gear being driven by the clock train, means for yieldably holding the clutch faces engaged, said means being releasable upon shifting the shaft to permit rotation thereof independently of said gear, and contact heads capable of engaging and disengaging the contact strip during the rotation of the disc, as and for the purpose set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER L. KING. 

